If you have never seen the Tyler Perry movie “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” then you are truly missing out. As a matter of fact, you should probably turn off your computer, go to the nearest Hollywood Video or Blockbuster and rent it. Better yet, buy it. If you’re like me, you will watch it over and over. Why? Because it is incredibly funny and incredibly poignant. And while the main character is indeed a “mad black woman”, it is not a “black” movie. (If there is such a thing.) It is a story of forgiveness and redemption; of God’s mercy and grace for us even though we don’t deserve it. I was a bit disappointed at how neatly everything was tied up at the end, but it is, after all, a movie and the message of the film is a powerful one despite the convenient ending.

The following clip is from the movie. Here’s a brief outline of the cast of characters:

-The young girl singing is Tiffany, the daughter of Brian, the gentlemen with the beard wearing a brown suit (Tyler Perry)

-The bald gentlemen is Charles, an attorney and the husband of the “mad black woman” who, after years of marriage to her, kicked her out their beautiful mansion and moved his girlfriend in. Before their divorce was final, he was shot by one of his clients and had to undergo some major rehab to regain the ability to walk and talk.

-The woman in the pink hat is Helen, the “mad black woman”. After the accident, she moved back into their home and helped nurse him back to health. (The girlfriend split after the shooting, but not before cleaning out Charles’ bank account.)

-The woman sitting next to Helen is Myrtle, Helen’s mother and a devout Christian.

-The woman who enters the church towards the end of the scene is Brenda, wife of Brian and mother to Tiffany. She no longer lives with Brian because she became a junkie. She was also Helen’s childhood friend. Just prior to this scene, she checked herself into a detox center and has presumably kicked her drug habit (like I said, it’s a movie).

Okay. Were you able to follow all that? There is so much more in this movie that I won’t mention here, but hopefully I’ve set the scene up adequately. To truly appreciate how awesome this clip is, you have to see the movie. I have seen this movie at least 10 times and I have yet to watch this clip without crying. (But I’m kinda sappy that way.)

Even if you don’t like the movie, you gotta admit that is some SERIOUSLY AWESOME gospel going on up in that church! Oh, and I haven’t even mentioned Madea – Helen’s aunt. She alone is worth the price of admission! Just go get the movie!